ponderings from the world of educational technology in HE

(Almost) A week in hashtags #1lib, #DigitalGuardiansEg

This week I have had to contrasting but equally inspiring (in different ways) experiences which I just want to share a quick reflection on.

On Monday I crossed off something from, which if I had one, might well be on my bucket list. It’s something had a negative experience a long time ago that tainted me, but over time I have come back to and seen the real value of both personally and professionally. What could that be I hear you ask, dear reader? Well, on Monday (along with colleagues from our library) I helped to create a new Wikipedia article as part of a #1lib event organised by my colleague Marion Kelt.

Sara Thomas, currently a Wikimedian in residence at SLIC, facilitated an really excellent workshop on using wikimedia for education. I have watched with great interest how a growing number of institutions are working with the wikimedia foundation. Ewan McAndrew, the current Wikimedian in residence at the University of Edinburgh spent some time with Marion and myself last year sharing some of the fabulous work he is supporting there. Ewan has also kindly extended invitations to a number of editathons, but for one reason or another I have never quite got there, or got there too late to actually do anything.

So it was great to actually go through the process of setting up, researching and starting to create a page and also get a really useful overview of the validity, reporting and general overview of wikipedia processes and growing number of support resources for education. I also found out a lot about Orkney Library and hope that others will contribute to the page.

Hopefully over the coming year, we can get some more Wikipedia activity going in the University.

On Thursday morning I had a different, more virtual, international experience through #DigitalGuardiansEg. This was a twitter scavenger hunt, designed by Maha Bali as part of a digital identities and literacies and intercultural learning course. You can read an overview of the design of the activity here. This post is just such a great example of open educational practice. I really love and admire the way Maha shares her learning designs and the resources she recommends.

It was great fun, way to start the day connecting with the class in Egypt, and with many others from around the world on twitter, join in the mystery object photo challenge.

Another part of the activity for the class was to create an “alternative CV” and publish it (again see Maha’s post for more details). This activity was so interesting to interact with on so many levels. I was really moved by the way a number of the students engaged with the activity and the empathy and reflections they shared. Breaking out of the traditional CV format is really powerful. If you have time I would encourage you to explore #digitalguardianseg.

Like the majority of people living and working in a predominately white, middle class, privileged, global North bubble, I don’t spend enough time reflecting on post colonalism, and intercultural issues. I was again moved by the generosity of Maha’s poem, I’m Not Angry at You. I really hope you aren’t angry at me Maha! But it made me angry at them, and myself for my own complacency.

Like others in the sector, we are increasingly using digital storytelling as a method for students to develop self reflection and digital capabilities. I’m am going to share the video below a lot now. We need to hear/see/ read so many more stories.

It was an absolute privilege and pleasure to be able to interact with Maha’s students this week and experience some of their stories.